Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1887-06-03

And SO years had rolled on without
anyone disputing with John Hallctt his
possession OF tho homo SO dear to him,
yLtSbeth made no further nlluslon TO tho
paper. She know that Mastor Tom was
dead, and was not aware that It might
have been OF Importance to his widow
md offspring.
And now. aftor all this iapsc Of time.
tho children OF John Hallets dead
brother had como to England. For whit
could 1t DO. ho asked agitatcdly, but to
clninl their own2 S.f M
John Hallet started for town oppressed
with n now fear. Lisboth might hnyo
found tho paper, and, suspecting him OF
foul play. posted It to Canada.
How he got through tho day no ono
know, for Henry pleaded o headache
and stayed Mt homo.
Tho disappointed youth would not risk
oncounterlng his nowly found relatives,
while ho was unable to account 90 thom
for his fathers extraordinary refusal to
receive thom Mt tho Copso.
Mrs. Halicts sympathlcs wore with
her son, but sho was too dutiful a
WHO to sny so. and seeing that she
avoided him, Henry carried n book
into the shrubberies, stunning tho eycs
OF his older sisters. who. for lnck of any
other reason for his depression. decided
And so he had. Already his heart had
gono out to bright, capable, brown-haired
Nell.
At last ho went Indoors to find his
mothor. He hurried TO tho morning
room and had entered It from tho
garden, before he bccane awaro thrt
tho muid wns uslicrlng In somo visitors.
1t was too lnto to rotrcnt they wrro
actually In tho room, Nell and Min
gazing around them with shy pionsuro,
and Stiss, Mary Hallct. hor broad face
be0miny With smiles rs sho caught hold
OF her slstor-in-lnw's hands, and kissed
her on both checks.
My dearest jennie. have brought
these dear girls to spond low days with
you-poor Toms daughtors."
MIR. Hallct by great effort composed
himself sufficiently to meet his guests
but II his lips were pnlo and he turned
away from them to shade his eycs with
his hand, thoy saw nothing suspicioue
: In 1t. -
On tho contrary. their conviction TINT
he was thinking Of their father, OF whom,
this gray-haircd. stately gentleman was
tho living Image. drow them towards
him. They hovercd near his chnir, they
left off speaking when they heard his
voice, and, when complaining of fatigue,
he rose'to go TO his room, moved by the
sanic impulse, both girls RON forward to
put their arms about his necks and hold
up their fair young faces for good
night kiss.
1t was plain that he had been mistaken
when he fnnc'1a they had como to wrcst
the huppicr for tho knowledge. Ho trlod
to appear calm and cheerful. to respond
to tho affection with which his nieccs
were disposcdto regard him; but when
they talkcd-as they did frccly-of tho
trials and struggles they and their
mother Ind gone through before and
nftor thoir bereavement his heart falntod
within him. and his remorso would bo-
como ovcrpowcring.
John Hnllct would fnin havo made
iatonemont. He thrust into Nclls hand
roll OF notes; but 1t was promptly re-
turned.
No, ho was not to bo allowed to glozo
his conscience by this kind OF compensa.
tlon. Neither was 1t any uso protesting
tint tho very net OF leaving tho Copse
nwny from him-tlo cl,lost son-was
unfnir, especially as Toms portion had
bcon Justly netod out to him at Ills own
desire. As long MS Toms daughters
were In Iris house. keeping nllvo the old
rccoilcctlons. how could ho be ut peace
with himself?
Four days clnpscd-nnxious ones to
Henry nnd his mother, who watched
Mr.. IIallrt's changing moods. but hcsi-
tatcd TO speak OF them even 10 each
otlicr-yet very pleasant ones to tho
young Canadians. Attrlbuting to their
unclo's Ill-hcalth tho shndow they saw
OH his brow, and tho troubled looks his
were always gentle md sympnthctic.
1t was tho only. check on their enjoy
mclt OF their visit to their English rcln-
tions. Aunt Mary, In spite OF her I'D
getty ways, was n loyable old lady. Mrs.
Hnllct WIS very mothcrly; and as for
Hcnry. nh, Nell would sigh whenever
she reminded hcrcclf how s0on their stay
In England would draw TO close.
Ono morning the sisters were on their
way to tho gnrdon, whom they saw
Lis!eth In tho net OF unlocking tile door
of the closed chamber.
They pnssod into 1t with her. Eliza
beth opened n tall press nnd shook out
before tllom tho folds Of their grand
mothers wedding gown.
AS she described her mistress Nell saw
TINT from the pocket OF the dress NOR
sci OF the bridal handkerchief was pcep-
ing. To get n bettcrvlow of tho file old
lnco that hortlcrel II, shc drew IL out,
md with 1t cnmc folded pnpor.
An! cricu LiSDcth, III is tnc ono
my good mnster garo to- her tcfore hc
died. She must havo gono to tho press
md slipped 1t Into tho pocket OF this
dress. Instead OF hor ordinary one, they
hung together tlion. Take It., young
ladies' believe, nay, but am sure, 1t
concerns your father"
Mr.1Iallctwns sjustsittlng down to break.
fnst wlcn Nell and Min camu to his
side with tho paper.
'.Wc linvc not opened 1t, dear ,incio;
II Is you who should rcnd 1t to us. Per
hnps II WAS to lot my father, know that
hl6 6paronts had quito forgiven Him for
leaving them. He used to soy no Ind
not acted vol when no deserted
thcm."
Dnt sohn Hallot pushed the paper
from him.
",Tho hand OF God is In this hc
gronncd, Read for yourselves, and
ease my soul OF tho burden Thai Ilas
honvily upon 1t. Lisbcth told me there
was. such a paper In existence. but MY
search for 1t was q hnlf-hcartcd one. /
valued my homo moro thnn wlnt is
right. but II nm TO lose IL Twill Icar
the loss without fnurmuring, for i have
lind Crcater mcrcics l,csfO,ynd nm mo